Proszowice was first mentioned in 1222 as a knightly village called Prossoucze. Its name probably comes from a diminutive of the name Proszko (Proszomir). In 1240, when the village was already part of the duke’s estates, a brick Romanesque church of St. John Baptist is mentioned in Proszowice. During the struggle for the throne in Kraków, duke Konrad Mazowiecki (1187 or 1188-1247) fortified and put soldiers on guard in several churches around Kraków, including the one in Proszowice. Apart from the church there was also a fortified prince stronghold in the town. Both buildings were destroyed between 1308 and 1311, during a rebellion led by district governor Albert and bishop Jan Muskata. Until the mid-14^th century, Proszowice was a private settlement. In 1385, the town belonged to the king’s estates, as king Kazimierz Wielki granted the town city charter under the Magdeburg law[1.1]. The town developed and the number of inhabitants grew thanks to numerous trade and guild privileges; craftsmen workshops, stalls, inns, bathhouses, mills and breweries were opened. Fertile land created favourable conditions for agriculture and the region gained the name of the “garden of Małopolska”. The centre of the town was a 1,7 -hectare square with a town hall, which housed shopping stalls with everyday articles. In 1564, there were following streets in the town: Nadolna, Szpitalna, Krakowska, Piekarska and Rzeźnicza; later Wrocławska and Królewska appeared. The square in Karkowska Street was used as a marketplace[1.2]. A royal court was situated near the town. The period between 15^th and 17^th centuries was the “golden age” of Proszowice, when it belonged to the most important and largest towns of Małopolska. In 1532, king Zygmunt I Stary granted the town the privilege to construct water supply and sewage system. The impressive town hall was made of wood, similarly as townsmen houses, which was the cause of frequent fires ravaging the town. In the years 1532-1549, Proszowice made an enormous profit from the right to store salt. It is worth remembering that the famous court jester, Stańczyk, originated from Proszowice. In the mid-16^th century, the town staged bloody and turbulent events connected with Reformation. With few exceptions, all Roman Catholic churches in the Proszowice land were changed into Calvinistic or Arian churches. During regional diets the nobility form other provinces arrived in Proszowice to adopt resolutions important to the whole Kingdom. It was there, when in 1562 king Zygmunt II August was admonished for staying in Poland and not in Lithuania. Also the rebellion against King Zygmunt II Stary was organized there by Mikołaj Zebrzydowski. Unfortunately, the Swedish Invasion put a stop to the town’s prosperous development.

In 1795, Proszowice came under Austrian rule and after the 1809 campaign it was annexed by the Duchy of Warsaw. The Congress of Vienna decided to incorporate the town to the Kingdom of Poland under Russian rule. In 1819, there were 1,085 inhabitants in Proszowice, including 1,065 Christians and 20 Orthodox Jews. People lived off farming and craft works. There was a strong butchers’ guild, while the carpenters’, weavers’ and shoemakers’ guilds were of lesser importance: “From the analysis of fair and market rates in Proszowice appears that (…) craftsmen sold their goods on their own. It applied mainly to butchers, tailors, soap-makers, bakers, shoemakers, furriers, rope-makers, tar producers and potters”[1.3]. Ten fairs were held annually and markets took place every Wednesday and Saturday. A large percentage of the local land owners took an active part in the January Uprising. Several skirmishes with the Russian army occurred in the area of Proszowice. After the Uprising, in 1869, the town lost its city charter.

After Poland gained independence in 1918, the former county of Proszowice was included in Miechów and Pińczów counties. Proszowice was spread over 39,2 hectares of land and comprised mainly of one-storey wooden houses. In 1923, it was given city rights again. Following workshops operated in the town: two brickyards, two mechanical and locksmiths’ workshops, a power plant, and a modern sawmill owned by Mordka Klajner. Four banks granted loans: the Cooperative Bank of the Proszowice Land, the Polish People’s Bank, the Cooperative Bank, and the People’s Bank; there was also a Loans and Savings Fund.

After the administrative reform of 1999, Proszowice became the county capital (including the town and the municipality under the same name) and belonged to Małopolskie Province.